Metal ski



Jan. 22, Hb RIHA METAL' SKI Filed Sept. 22, 1961 fm1/614173K. /lm/s ,Zum#Y (par any u a e Unite Sttes This invention relates to a metal ski,which consists of two metal sections which are combined to form agenerally box-shaped section. In almost all known skis of this type, thebox section contains a spring insert, which imparts the necessarystrength tol the ski. This spring insert may consist of a plurality ofleaf springs superimposed to form a spring set, or of a spring leafwhich is formed with a plurality of undulations consecutively extendingin the direction of the length of the strip and having top and bottomcrests which engage the opposite walls of the ski section. To provide aski having the necessary elasticity, the box section may be providedwith a wooden insert, which has a resilient and, at the same time,damping action. This shows that in the known metal skis, differentfunctions are performed by separate parts. The box section itself isintended to impart to the ski the necessary stability and, particularly,resistance to torsion, whereas the spring is provided to obtain acertain elasticity. Normal box sections, however, have a high inherentrigidity and a considerable resistance to deflection so that the springsthat are provided can hardly be effective. On the other hand, if the boxsection is constructed to provide for a certain freedom of relativemovement between its component sections, this will enable the provisionof a ski having desirable elastic properties, but the ski will lack thenecessary torsion resistance and will tend to flutter. A ski has beendisclosed in which two U-shaped metal sections are nested one in theother and the top section is supported by leaf springs on the bottomsection. In this ski, the nesting provides for a freedom of verticalmovement between the top section, which carries the binding, and thebottom section, which carries the tread. In addition -to the low torsionresistance, which results in fluttering of the ski, as has beenmentioned, such a ski has also the disadvantage that the curvature ofthe tread remains virtually constan-t. Whereas changes in the loading ofthe `ski will result in a change of the distance between the twosections, the change in the position of the top section will not resultin a deflection of the lower section. A ski which cannot be properlydeected, however, is not suitable for modern skiing. Besides, thesprings result in a considerable increase in weight. Many metal skis ofsaid type do not even permit of a reinforcement of the tread edgesWhereas sharp edges are essential for modern skiing.

All these disadvantages are eliminated by the invention. 'I'he samerelates to a metal ski of the type dened irst hereinbefore and resides.essentially in that the section comprises a bottom part, which isapproximately U-shaped in cross-section, and a platelike top part, whichis connected to outwardly angled edge flanges of the bottom part to formside ledges that protrude on both sides beyond the box, the upright sidewalls of the bottom part being formed as far as to the underside of theweb thereof with undulations extending transversely to the longitudinaldirection. Edge strips which cover the side walls and carry on theunderside a reinforcing edge member are preferably secured to the sideledges.

The design according to the invention retains all advantages of a skibody consisting of a closed box section. These advantages includeparticularly the high torsional strength, which prevents fluttering.Nevertheless, the undulations of the side walls will impart a sufficientflexibility to the ski because the undulated side walls ca-n be iCCvertically deflected more easily than before, whereby the undulations inthe tension zone, which is disposed on the underside of the ski, arepulled apart and slightly iiattened whereas in the compression zone,which is reinforced by the side ledges, there is practically nodeformation. When manufactured from resilient material, the side wallsconstitute at the same time the spring elements which return the ski toits initial shape when relieved. Depending on the selected material andthe Wall thickness, an additional spring is not required in many cases.By a variation of the depth of the undulations and of the height of theside walls, any portion of the ski may be provided with the elasticproperties desired for it. The edge strips cover the undulations of theside walls and, if made from appropriate material, may be used asadditional spring and/or damping Ielements. They enable also theprovision of a proper and effective edge reinforcement. A particulardegree of unsusceptibility to temperature lluctuations, moisture etc.and a considerably low maintenance requirement is imparted to the ski ifthe edge strips are made from exible light metal, preferably from hardaluminium.

In order to provide a sufiiciently rigid ski body, which is unmovable,particularly in the transverse direction, the invention provides furtherto interconnect the two edge strips adjacent to the tread-forming web ofthe bottom sect-ion by spaced ties. Whereas these ties may extend abovethe web through openings in the side walls of the bottom part, it ismuch simpler to connect the edge strips below the web. In the lattercase, the ties, consisting in most cases of bands, are received intransverse grooves `formed in the web of the bottom part. The edgestrips -may be fastened by upright bolts which extend through the edgestrips and are secured Vto them, e.g., by riveting i or welding, and thelower ends of which are connected by ties. The bolts may consist of amaterial lhaving a higher strength than thel edge strips themselves.

The edge strips have preferably smooth faces confrontving the side wallsof the bottom part and engaging the outer crests of the undulationsformed in the side Walls". This ensures a slight freedom of relativemovement between the edge strips and the side walls so that theindividual undulations can readily Hatten away from the edge strips whenthe ski is being detlected.

The edge strips are preferably covered by steel edge members having theshape of an unequal angle in section. The shorter ilange of said angleprotrudes from the edge strip and serves at the same time to coniine theedge of a tread facing which covers the .edge strips and the interveningweb of the bottom par-t of the box section. This tread facing coversalso the gaps defined by the web with the edge strips and the anglesection flanges lying thereon and is preferably made in known mannerAfrom a tough synthetic resin providing a smooth surface.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing a ski, partly in section,

FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view showing a ski, partly broken away,-before the application of the tread facing.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the ski of FIG. 2, partly broken away to showone of the spaced ties.

IFIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing a finished ski.

The ski body consists of two metal sections 1 and 2, which are made,e.g., from stainless sheet steel or a light alloy. The bottom part 1 isgenerally U-shaped in crosssection; its web is provided with alongitudinal groove 3 and it has outwardly angled edge 4iianges 4, overwhich the edges 5 of part 2 are folded inwardly. Alternatively, the part2 might be bonded with an adhesive or by welding. The distance from part2 to the web and consequently the height of the side walls 6 mayincrease from the two ends of the ski in known manner toward the areaprovided with the ski binding. If desired, the part 2 may beadditionally provided adjacent to the ski binding with an applied orinserted reinforcement. The box section consisting of the parts land 2has side ledges which are formed by the parts 4 and 5 and protrude fromthe box section proper. The two side walls 6 of the bottom portion are-undulated transversely to their longitudinal direction. Theseundulations may extend uniformly throughout the length of the ski or thespacing of the undulations and their depth may increase toward the areaof the binding.

The Side ledges 4, have edge strips 7 secured to them, which liill thespace that is left free below these side ledges and the height of whichcorresponds approximately to the height vof the side Walls 6. These edgestrips are secured to the side ledges by means of bolts 11, which areriveted to the side ledges and extend through the side strips and thelower ends of which are interconnected by spaced metal bands 10.extending in transverse grooves 8 of the web 9 of the lower part 1.These edge strips are flat on the side facing the side walls and have asmooth surface 12 engaging the outer crests of the undulations. The edgestrips themselves are preferably made from the hard light alloy knownunder the name Duralurnin. Alternatively, they may consist of hollowmetal members, Wooden members or, eg., plastics reinforced with glassbers. The edge strips are covered on the underside by steel edge members13` consisting of unequal angles. 'I'he outer ilanges 14 of thesemembers 13 are aligned With the outside surface of the edge strips andserve at the same time to conne the edges of a tread facing 15 appliedto the underside of the ski.

What is claimed is:

l. A metal ski which comprises top and bottom metal parts connected toform a generally rectangular box section, said top part being ilat andsaid bottom part being generally U-shaped in cross-section andcomprising a `bottom web, upright side walls having undulationsextending transversely to the longitudinal direction and in an areaextending to the underside of the web, outward- 1y angledanges at thetop edges of. said side walls, said ,4 flanges being connected to saidtop part to form side ledges, edge strips secured to said side ledgesand covering sa-id side walls, and reinforcing edge members carried bysaid edge strips and disposed on the underside thereof.

2. A metal ski as set forth in claim 1, in which said edge stripsconsist of exible light metal.

3. A metal ski Las set forth in claim 2, in which said edge stripsconsist of Duralumin.

4. A metal ski as set forth in claim l, which comprises ties disposedadjacent to the underside of said web and spaced in the longitudinaldirection of said ski and connecting said edge strips.

5. A metal ski as set forthin claim 4, in which said underside of saidweb is formed with transverse grooves and said ties consist of bandslying in said grooves.

6. A metal ski `as set forth'in claim 4, in which said edge strips arefastened by upright bolts which extend through said edge strips and havetop ends secured to said side ledges and lower ends connected by saidties.

7. A metal ski as set forth in claim 1, in which said edge strips havesmooth surfaces confronting said side walls and said undulations haveouter crests contacting said smooth surfaces.

8. A metal ski as set forth in claim l1, in which said reinforcing edgemembers consist of unequal angles of lsteel having a short flange whichprotrudes downwardly from the outer edge of the edge strip, said skicomprising further a tread facing disposed on the underside of said weband of the edge strips and laterally confined by said short flanges.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,552,990 Hunt Sept. 8, 1925 2,560,693 Hickman July 17, 19511 2,694,580Head Nov. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 213,291 Austria Feb. 10, 19641374,223 Great Britain June 9, 1932 475,783 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1937271,014 Italy July 25, 1928 55,922 Norway Nov. 18, 1935 152,91'8Switzerland June l, 1932

1. A METAL SKI WHICH COMPRISES TOP AND BOTTOM METAL PARTS CONNECTED TOFORM A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BOX SECTION, SAID TOP PART BEING FLAT ANDSAID BOTTOM PART BEING GENERALLY U-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION ANDCOMPRISING A BOTTOM WEB, UPRIGHT SIDE WALLS HAVING UNDULATIONS EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY TO THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION AND IN AN AREA EXTENDING TOTHE UNDERSIDE OF THE WEB, OUTWARDLY ANGLED FLANGES AT THE TOP EDGES OFSAID SIDE WALLS, SAID FLANGES BEING CONNECTED TO SAID TOP PART TO FORMSIDE LEDGES, EDGE STRIPS SECURED TO SAID SIDE LEDGES AND COVERING SAIDSIDE WALLS, AND REINFORCING EDGE MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID EDGE STRIPS ANDDISPOSED ON THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF.